The first day of early voting saw a steady trickle of voters passing through the doors this morning at Honolulu Hale, one of more than a dozen locations where you can cast a ballot across the state.

Some came to support John McCain, others Barack Obama.

Nearly all interviewed by The Advertiser today said they were voting early for two reasons: To avoid long lines come general election day on Nov. 4; and to exercise their right to elect new leaders.

"If you don't vote, you can't complain about who's your next president, right?" Julie Martinez said this morning with a chuckle. "I voted because I wanted to have a voice in the election. He may not win, but at least I can feel good complaining about it later."

Martinez, who works at United Airlines, and Heather Damon, a nurse at Shriners Hospital, came to Honolulu Hale together before heading out to celebrate Martinez's 40th birthday. On Nov. 1, they leave for a 10-day trip to China, another reason they showed up on their day off to cast their votes early.

"I think she knows who I voted for but I'm not sure who she did," Damon quipped. "I voted for Obama, but it was like eenie-meenie-miney-moe to choose between them. I mean, do you think either one of them is really that good?"

Martinez joked that her husband influenced her vote.

"He has very strong political views," she said, smiling. "For my husband's sake I'll say I voted for McCain ... but that doesn't mean I did."

Paul Stoeck of Mililani said he was in and out of the polls this morning within 15 minutes, on his way to go fishing.

"This is my third or fourth time for early voting," said Stoeck, 65. "I always come early. It's just a lot easier and quicker. It's enjoyable. I've had enough time to look how to vote. I had my mind made up a month ago and it didn't change."

Dolores Biroan, 72, of Honolulu, said she took some time off from her job downtown this morning to cast her ballot.

"This is probably my third time voting early," she said. "On election day, I'll go to the beach or just cruise around. Doing it early is quicker."

Early and "absentee" voting continues through Nov. 1. Besides the presidential and mayoral elections, there are 142 candidates are running for 71 seats across Hawai'i, as well as votes on key issues such as ConCon.

For more on this story, see tomorrow's edition of The Advertiser.